بسم اللّٰهِ الرحمن الرحيم
Hadrat
Ali al-Hujwiri
عَلِيّ ٱلْهُجْوِيرِي
(Rahimahullah) رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ
5 Safar 465 AH
Abul Hasan
Born into a family of Sayyids in Ghazni. After some time his family shifted to Mahallah Hajwayr, from which he received the designation 'Hajwiri' (400 AH) — Ghazni (in present-day Afghanistan)
- ◈At approximately 20 years old, impressed Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi through scholarly debate against a non-Muslim philosopher
events-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Gained knowledge from many high-ranking leaders of spiritual orders (Aimmah-e-Tareeqat)
events-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Travelled extensively — visited over 10 countries including Iraq, Syria, Makkah, and Madinah
events-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈His perfect character, outstanding conversation, and luminous personality attracted followers
events-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Served religion with great love throughout his life — gave the message of peace to those who were depressed and fulfilled religious and worldly needs of his disciples and true lovers
Nobility of Daata Ali Hajwayri, p.10 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈The city of Lahore, which was drowned in the darkness of unbelief and polytheism, became a fort of Islam by his efforts — his good manners, character and politeness won profound love in the hearts of people
Nobility of Daata Ali Hajwayri, p.10 — Maktaba tul Madina
“Gaining knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim man and every Muslim woman”— The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), cited by Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (rahimahullah) in Kashf al-Mahjub
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadees 224)
book-nobility-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
Completed his Islamic education at a young age in Ghazni
Gained knowledge and Ma'rifat from many high-ranking Aimmah-e-Tareeqat and Shari'at
Impressed Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi through scholarly debate at approximately 20 years old
By virtue of his scholarly competence, silenced a non-Muslim philosopher with outstanding answers in the presence of the Sultan
Travelled extensively to over 10 countries for Islamic knowledge
Visited Kirmaan, Seestan, Turkistan, Maawara-an-Nahr, Khuzestan, Tabristan, Azerbaijan, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Hijaz (Makkah and Madinah). Met righteous bondsmen of Allah and endured hardships for the pleasure of Allah
Spiritual vision at the tomb of Hadrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) in Syria
Saw the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah, who identified Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) as his spiritual guide
Arrived in Markaz-e-Awliya (Lahore) at approximately 34 years of age
The city was drowned in darkness of unbelief and polytheism. Through his efforts, Lahore became a fort of Islam. Stayed for approximately 30 years
Built the first Masjid in Lahore by a saint, near his residence
Personally worked as a labourer during its construction, contributing with great love and enthusiasm
Completed his Islamic education at a young age in Ghazni
Gained knowledge and Ma'rifat from many high-ranking Aimmah-e-Tareeqat and Shari'at
Impressed Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi through scholarly debate at approximately 20 years old
By virtue of his scholarly competence, silenced a non-Muslim philosopher with outstanding answers in the presence of the Sultan
Travelled extensively to over 10 countries for Islamic knowledge
Visited Kirmaan, Seestan, Turkistan, Maawara-an-Nahr, Khuzestan, Tabristan, Azerbaijan, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Hijaz (Makkah and Madinah). Met righteous bondsmen of Allah and endured hardships for the pleasure of Allah
Spiritual vision at the tomb of Hadrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) in Syria
Saw the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah, who identified Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) as his spiritual guide
Arrived in Markaz-e-Awliya (Lahore) at approximately 34 years of age
The city was drowned in darkness of unbelief and polytheism. Through his efforts, Lahore became a fort of Islam. Stayed for approximately 30 years
Built the first Masjid in Lahore by a saint, near his residence
Personally worked as a labourer during its construction, contributing with great love and enthusiasm
Completed his Islamic education at a young age in Ghazni
Gained knowledge and Ma'rifat from many high-ranking Aimmah-e-Tareeqat and Shari'at
Impressed Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi through scholarly debate at approximately 20 years old
By virtue of his scholarly competence, silenced a non-Muslim philosopher with outstanding answers in the presence of the Sultan
Travelled extensively to over 10 countries for Islamic knowledge
Visited Kirmaan, Seestan, Turkistan, Maawara-an-Nahr, Khuzestan, Tabristan, Azerbaijan, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Hijaz (Makkah and Madinah). Met righteous bondsmen of Allah and endured hardships for the pleasure of Allah
Spiritual vision at the tomb of Hadrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) in Syria
Saw the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah, who identified Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) as his spiritual guide
Arrived in Markaz-e-Awliya (Lahore) at approximately 34 years of age
The city was drowned in darkness of unbelief and polytheism. Through his efforts, Lahore became a fort of Islam. Stayed for approximately 30 years
Built the first Masjid in Lahore by a saint, near his residence
Personally worked as a labourer during its construction, contributing with great love and enthusiasm
- ♥Established a mosque near his residence in Lahore and engaged in constant Islamic preaching — this was the first masjid built by a saint in Lahore, and he personally worked as a labourer during its construction
book-nobility-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Experienced a spiritual vision at Hadrat Bilal's (radi Allahu anhu) tomb in Syria where the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) identified Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) as his spiritual guide
events-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Spent three months in spiritual retreat (Chillah) at the shrine of Hadrat Bayazid Bastami (rahimahullah) to resolve a spiritual difficulty, demonstrating his devotion to seeking closeness to Allah through the blessed saints
book-nobility-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥After the Chillah, he travelled to Khorasan (Persia) and stayed at a sufi lodge (khanqah) for the night. The ill-mannered residents tormented him — they served food to all guests except him, humiliated and mistreated him throughout the night, and he bore it all with complete patience and gratitude. He recounts in Kashf al-Mahjub: 'That night, the young man who was patient and grateful patiently and happily endured the ill-treatment of others without reacting, demonstrating the habit of the beloved bondsmen of Allah who remain patient in every affliction and thank Allah.' By bearing this tribulation with patience, his spiritual difficulty was resolved
speech-data-ganj-bakhsh-etiquette-2025 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥His work Kashf al-Mahjub (meaning 'Unveiling of the Hidden — removing the veils of the heart') presents a complete framework of etiquette in three categories derived from a chapter called Kashf-e-Hijab: (1) Adab towards Allah — performing all actions purely for His pleasure; (2) Adab towards oneself — guarding the soul from base desires; (3) Adab in social life — respecting all of Allah's creation. He further elaborates etiquettes of hospitality, eating, and drinking across pages 492–514 of the Persian translation
speech-data-ganj-bakhsh-etiquette-2025 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥It was his routine to visit the shrines of pious saints and he recorded many such incidents in Kashf al-Mahjub — including his visit to Hadrat Bilal's tomb in Syria, his three-month Chillah at the shrine of Hadrat Bayazid Bastami (rahimahullah), and the blessed shrine of Sayyiduna Abul Abbas Qaasim Bin Mahdi (rahimahullah) in Merv from which he witnessed blessings
Nobility of Daata Ali Hajwayri, p.11 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Showed that it is the habit of the beloved bondsmen of Allah to remain patient on every affliction and thank Allah — in every hardship he encountered during his travels, he remained as an example of patience and contentment
Nobility of Daata Ali Hajwayri, p.5 — Maktaba tul Madina
Earliest Persian treatise on Islamic mysticism — the only work readily available today. Covers spiritual etiquette (adab towards Allah, towards oneself, and in social life), biographies of saints, and the realities of Tasawwuf. Hadrat Khwaja Nizam al-Din Awliya (rahimahullah) used to say: 'Whoever does not have a murshid (spiritual guide) should read Kashf al-Mahjub — it will serve as his guide'
Guide to the path of religion
Collection of poetry
On the observance of the rights of Allah
Book of exposition for the people of insight
Secrets of the spiritual cloak and litanies
On spiritual annihilation and purification
On the essence of meanings
On spiritual authority
On miracles
Sayyid Usman — embodied piety and knowledge
Direct descent from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through Hadrat Imam Hasan Mujtaba (radi Allahu anhu)
20th Safar ul Muzaffar, 465 AH
“A young man who was patient and grateful patiently and happily endured the ill-treatment of others without even reacting — demonstrating the habit of the beloved bondsmen of Allah, who remain patient in every affliction and thank Allah”
book-nobility-data-ganj-bakhsh — Maktaba tul Madina
“The best of deeds is a sincere intention”
book-data-ganj-bakhsh-etiquette — Maktaba tul Madina
“The one who sits in the company of bad people becomes victim to the evil of the carnal self; if a person has righteousness and goodness within himself, he will prefer the company of the righteous.”
40 Statements of the Righteous Elders, p.25 — Maktaba tul Madina
“The carnal self can tolerate stepping on fire but finds it far more difficult to act upon knowledge.”
Statements of our Pious Predecessors, p.25 — Maktaba tul Madina
“The carnal self adopts the characteristics and habits of the company one remains in.”
Statements of our Pious Predecessors, p.25 — Maktaba tul Madina
“The soul of action is sincerity. Just as the body without the soul is like a mere stone, likewise, action without sincerity is simply dust.”
Statements of our Pious Predecessors, p.25 — Maktaba tul Madina
“A person should not consider himself worthy of anything — he should keep watch over his state at every moment, for the spiritual path is long and death may come at any time.”
speech-data-ganj-bakhsh-etiquette-2025 — Maktaba tul Madina
“Among the etiquettes of oneself is that a person should always speak the truth — lying is bad, and polluting one's tongue with lies is a form of self-disrespect. A person should eat less so that they do not need to go to the toilet frequently.”
Daata Ganj Bakhsh, p.13 — Maktaba tul Madina
“The Nafs [self] has a habit of finding comfort in its companions. Whatever kind of people one sits with, one adopts their habits. This is why the Awliya first pay attention to the rights of friendship and encourage their disciples accordingly — learning and acting upon the etiquettes of friendship is considered obligatory among the Awliya.”
Daata Ganj Bakhsh, p.14 — Maktaba tul Madina
“During Tawaf, a person was only making this supplication: 'O Allah Almighty! Make my friends righteous.' Someone asked: 'Why are you only praying for your friends?' The person gave a remarkable reply: 'I have to return to my friends. If they become righteous, I will become righteous too, and if they go astray, their deviation will surely affect me. Therefore, I am praying for my friends.'”
Daata Ganj Bakhsh, p.14 — Maktaba tul Madina
“Among the etiquettes of hospitality is that when a traveller arrives, one should be pleased, show them respect, and welcome them with honour and reverence. Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him) did not even ask the guests where they had come from or what their names were — he promptly engaged with showing them hospitality.”
Daata Ganj Bakhsh, p.14 — Maktaba tul Madina
“A human cannot survive without food. However, one condition of etiquette in consuming food is to avoid overindulgence — the one whose sole concern is filling their stomach has no more worth than what exits it.”
Daata Ganj Bakhsh, p.15 — Maktaba tul Madina
- 🌟Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (rahimahullah) was so clever that at just 20 years old he won a big debate in front of a Sultan!
- 🌟He travelled to more than 10 different countries to learn about Islam!
- 🌟He wrote 'Kashf al-Mahjoob' — the first ever book about Islamic spirituality in Persian!
- 🌟He lived in Lahore for 30 years teaching people about Islam — his shrine is still visited by millions today!
- 🌟His family was descended from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through Hadrat Imam Hasan (radi Allahu anhu)!
Related Events(4)
Birth of Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (Rahimahullah) رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ Hadrat Ali al-Hujwiri (Rahimahullah) رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ
? 400 AH
Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (Rahimahullah) رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ Debates Before Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi
? 420 AH
Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (Rahimahullah) رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ Arrives in Lahore
? 434 AH
Passing of Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (Rahimahullah) رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ
20 Safar 465 AH